MP suspended from office

TELEFOMIN MP Solan Mirisim has been suspended as an elected representative after Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin submitted a reference to a tribunal inquiring into 22 allegations of misconduct in office against him.
The tribunal chaired by Justice Les Gavara-Nanu was adjourned to July 13 to allow Mirisim and his lawyers to go through the reference.
Justice Gavara-Nanu ruled that Mirisim should not perform any duties in respect to his ministerial and electoral duties during his suspension.
He also told the tribunal to avoid long adjournments so that a decision would be reached hopefully before the end of the year.
The appointment of a leadership tribunal was made on May 19 following a request made by Kaluwin to the Chief Justice under the Organic law on duties and responsibilities of leadership.
The other tribunal members are Magistrates Mark Selefkariu and Josephine Kilage.
Mirisim last week said his referral to the Leadership Tribunal was healthy for the office he occupied and the electorate he represented.